2011 Ford Expedition Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2011 Ford Expedition, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Powertrain (other)2125.3%
- Engine1315.7%
- Body & structure1012.0%
- Interior & seats1012.0%
- Driver assistance78.4%
- Electrical78.4%
- Fuel system44.8%
- Visibility33.6%
- Other / unspecified33.6%
- Airbags11.2%
- Brakes11.2%
- Steering11.2%
- Tires & wheels11.2%
- Exterior lighting11.2%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
Hard, delayed, jump from idle when accelerator is pressed. Hard shift from park to reverse.
So my 2011 expedition has a lead frame problem it is stuck in 4th gear and all the warning lights are on associating the lead frame. The shop I left told me it Is the lead frame. The problem is the ford f150 with the exact same transmission as mine has a recall for that exact part. But no recall on the expiration with the exact same transmission as mine. This is a safety problem as it is stuck in fourth gear and completely unsafe to drive. This is a ford factory problem and needs to be addressed before it gets someone gravely injured of killed I talked with ford and they sY since there is no recall there is nothing they can do I've beennout a vehicle for 2 weeks already and now they say they have no clue when they can find the part. So I'm just out a vehicle that I payed thousands of dollars for. This is Unacceptable as I need the vehicle to get to work I don't know if this will help but I have to try something. There should be a recall on the expeditions as well
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
I bought this vehicle early 2023. From the moment I bought it I’ve had a loud ticking sound come from the dash or the motor when I start the car also when it’s really hot out. It also didn’t blow cold air. So I had to save up enough money to replace the AC components in my 2011 expedition. After I got it “repaired” It only lasted about six months and that’s being conservative. $2000 later and it’s blowing hot air and still making you loud ticking sound. I pretty much replaced all the components that deal with the AC and the blower. I don’t know what to do anymore, but it makes a loud ticking sound when I’m driving, when I start the car, anytime. And I also don’t have cold air anymore.
The engine is blown at 125k miles when all servicing and maintenance was done at the dealership. Somewhere around 50k to 60k miles, I complained to the dealership about a ticking noise from the engine and was told multiple times it was "normal with this engine". Well this engine blew while I was on my way to take the kids to school. I was on the interstate/bypass and was by some miracle able to get the 7-11. I was driving and all of a sudden, it sounded like there was squirrel under the hood. I had to have it towed to the dealership because it was not driveable and they told me the engine was no longer good and was blown. They said it would cost me $10k and I would be better off buying a new vehicle. There was no engine light or anything that came on until it blew. The only "warning" I had was the slight ticking noise that came from the engine, but when mentioned to the dealership, I was told that it was normal with this engine.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
DRIVERS RETRACTABLE RUNNING BOARD MALFUNCTIONS GOING UP AND EXTENDING. THE RUNNING BOARD HAS STOPPED MIDWAY DURING EXTENSION AND HAVE CAUSED OCCUPANTS TO FALL DUE TO THE RUNNING BOARD SUDDENLY COLLAPSING TO NORMAL HEIGHT WITH WEIGHT OF THE OCCUPANT ON THE RUNNING BOARD. RETRACTION OF THE RUNNING BOARDS IS ROUGH AND MAY TAKE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO RETRACT. THE VEHICLE IS WELL MAINTAINED BY THE DEALERSHIP. THERE ARE NO LUBRICATION POINTS TO ENABLE MAINTENANCE OF THE RUNNING BOARDS. AT THIS TIME THE RUNNING BOARDS ARE TURNED OFF AND ARE IN THE RETRACTED POSITION. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY ON A STREET OR PARKING LOT AND THE DRIVER AND LEFT PASSENGER DOORS ARE OPENED/CLOSED FOR ENTERING OR EXITING THE VEHICLE. THIS ONLY HAPPENS TO DRIVER SIDE RUNNING BOARD. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN ON-GOING FOR THE PAST YEAR. THE DEALERSHIP HAS USED A SPRAY LUBRICANT ON THE HINGES OF THE RUNNING BOARD BUT IT IS A SHORT TERM FIX FOR A LONG TERM ISSUE. THERE HAS BEEN NO DAMAGE TO THE RUNNING BOARDS, NO ADJUSTMENT TO THE RUNNING BOARD MOTOR OR MECHANISM. THE RUNNING BOARD MOTOR APPEARS TO OVER OR UNDER TRAVEL AND DOES NOT MOVE THE RUNNING BOARD TO THE CORRECT LOCATION IN THE MOVEMENT CYCLE. *TR
WINTER 2019, PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT STAY CLOSED. APPEARS TO ONLY HAPPEN WHEN TEMPERATURES ARE BELOW FREEZING. STARTED TO HAPPEN ON DRIVERS SIDE A DAY LATER. I'VE NOTICED WATER INSIDE ON THE SILL PLATE OF THE VEHICLE AFTER IT RAINS. I SUSPECT WATER IS MAKING IT'S WAY INTO THE DOOR. THE ISSUE HAS RETURNED. TRIED TO GET WARRANTY REPAIRS FROM ORIGINAL DEALERSHIP BUT HAS GONE UNANSWERED. APPEARS THIS IS A KNOW ISSUE AND REPAIRS ARE COVERED BY AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. WHICH I DID NOT GET. WORKING WITH BBB AND FORD CORPORATE ON THAT ISSUE. THE PASSENGER DOOR WAS NOT FIXED EITHER.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that the locking assembly on the driver’s side door was frozen and failed to operate as designed. Due to the issue, the contact was unable to enter the vehicle without using a hair dryer to warm up the lock. However, once the door was opened, the door was unable to close until the lock was heated up again. No warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer and was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The approximate failure mileage was 115,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY FOB FAILED TO UNLOCK THE DOORS INTERMITTENTLY. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY PAD LOCATED ON THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR FAILED TO OPERATE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO ACCESS THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LOCK MOTOR ON ALL THE DOORS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,977.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT-OFF AND WENT INTO LIMP MODE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CONTINUED DRIVING TO HIS DESTINATION. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY POSITIONING SENSOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FAILURE RECURRED WHILE ACCELERATING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME MECHANIC BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 179,000.
I WAS DRIVING 70MPH ON HWY 290 WHEN MY CAR SUDDENLY DOWNSHIFTED TO FIRST GEAR AND THEN THE WHEELS TOTALLY LOCKED UP. THIS CAUSED ME TO START SLIDING SIDEWAYS DOWN THE ROAD UNTIL I CAME TO A STOP. IT TURNED OUT THAT A COMPUTER MODULE REGULATING SHIFTING HAD GONE BAD. THIS ALSO CAUSED MY TRANSMISSION TO GO OUT AND NEED REPLACING.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2011 Ford Expedition. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 136,000, and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 336,000. The contact called the seller, who advised that the sale was final and to end communications. An Attorney General and private attorney were contacted.
The contact owns a 2011 FORD Expedition. The contact stated that while driving, there was a burning odor coming from the vehicle. The contact stated at the time she did not see any smoke coming from her vehicle, so she assumed it was the outside. The contact stated that once she parked her vehicle, she sat inside the vehicle for approximately one hour before she exited the vehicle. The contact stated that when she came back to her vehicle, it was filled with smoke. The contact stated that the wires from the rear, middle row, passengers seat, on the driver's side of the vehicle had been burning. The contact stated that it did not cause a fire, however, it did melt the foam inside the seat. The contact stated the wires inside the seat were also melted. The dealer nor the manufacturer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 177,000
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND IT READS CHECK FUEL FILL INLET? IF I CAN FIND SOMEONE TO TURN IT OFF THEY WILL CLEAR IT BUT WITHIN A WEEK IT IS BACK ON. *TR
VEHICLE IS IN MOTION AT HIGH-SPEED AND CUTS OFF OR DOWN SHIFTS WITHOUT WARNING. SITTING AT IDLE ENGINE CUTS OFF
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Expedition. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the front blower system was seized. The vehicle was driven to the residence. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed HVAC blower motor. The contact was informed that the HVAC blower motor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed of Technical Service Bulletin: 10163573; however, the contact was informed that the vehicle repair was not covered under the bulletin. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 153,000.
REAR WINDOW BLEW OUT. MY FAMILY AND I WERE DRIVING HOME FROM A ROAD TRIP AND HAD PULLED INTO OUR HOME. EVERYBODY GOT OUT AND WE SAYING STANDING BY THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. WE HEARD A BANG FROM THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE. I WALKED TO THE BACK TO SEE THE BACK WINDOW COMPLETELY SHATTERED. I DID NOT NOTICE ANY STRIKE MARKS BECAUSE THE WINDOW WAS STILL INTACT AND ON THE VEHICLE. I WENT TO UNLATCH IT AND THE WHOLE THING FELL OF THE VEHICLE. THE GLASS WAS INSIDE THE VEHICLE, ON TOP OF THE VEHICLE, AND ALL OVER THE FLOOR.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
While getting tires replaced (Discount Tire), the representative pointed out that the aluminum-shelled lug nuts had swollen and become so deformed that the correctly sized socket could not be used. FUrthermore they could not be accurately torqued. The lug nuts had to be replaced, which cost $175.
2 piece lug nuts swelled creating a dangerous situation where the lugs were extremely difficult to remove. If the vehicle experienced a flat tire, they would be difficult if not impossible to remove on the road.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE NEVER BEFORE IN COLLISION. FRONT BUMPER FULLY CONTACTED WITH SMALLER SUV, SUSTAINING SIGNIFICANT FRONT-END DAMAGE. ONLY PASSENGER FRONT AIRBAG DEPLOYED, DESPITE THERE BEING NO PASSENGER IN SEAT (POCKETBOOK WEIGHING ONLY FEW POUNDS ON THE SEAT, CERTAINLY NOT ENOUGH TO TRIGGER OCCUPANCY SENSORS). MY QUESTION IS TWO-FOLD: WHY DID AIRBAG DEPLOY IN EMPTY PASSENGER SEAT? AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, WHY DID IT NOT DEPLOY IN OCCUPIED DRIVER SEAT? IS THERE EVER A NON-OFFSET FRONT-END COLLISION WHERE FORCE OF IMPACT REQUIRES ONLY ONE OF TWO AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY? *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
JUN OF 2016 BRAKES STARTED GOING ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE GARAGE WHEN ENGINE WAS FIRST STARTED. VEHICLE WOULD ROLL DOWN DRIVEWAY AND BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP IT UNTIL PUMPED. TOOK VEHICLE TO FORD AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE. THEY FINALLY REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER AND THE PROBLEM STOPPED FOR 10 MONTHS. NOW THE PROBLEM IS BACK AND THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE AGAIN. HAS HAPPENED TWICE THIS TIME BACKING OUT OF GARAGE (LESS THAN 5 MPH). CAR HAS HAD A FULL BRAKE JOB, NO LEAKS, AND HAS 74K MILES.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
LLOSS OF STEERING CONTROL WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE ON AN INCLINE, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND THE FRONT WHEELS FAILED TO TURN. THE 4X4 SYSTEM ALSO INDEPENDENTLY ACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DISCOVERED THAT THE 4X4 MOTOR AND SOLENOID FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
NO REVERSE LIGHTS, NO BACK UP LIGHTS, NO POWER TO THE REVERSE LIGHT BULBS.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .